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Monday, October 26, 2015

Steve Jobs Review - 3 Stars

I really wanted to love the new film biography of “Steve Jobs.” But Aaron Sorkin’s fast paced egocentric story possibly captures too well the business-computer-consumer-gadget genius who also happened to be a major jerk. Sorkin captures Jobs in three scenes set before three key presentations in the life of Jobs and Apple Corporation in 1984, 1988, and 1998. Michael Fassbender deserves kudos for his portrait of Jobs — jabbering to aids and micro managing as the moments count down to important events. You may agree it’s hard to believe this amount of arguing in the minutes counting down to a crucial time. In other words the scenes feel contrived. The same characters return to argue with Jobs during the three acts. They include Kate Winslett as Apple’s marketing director Joanna Hoffman, Seth Rogen as programmer Steve Wozniak, Jeff Daniels as father figure businessman John Scully and three different actresses as the daughter Liza whom Jobs refused for many years to acknowledge as well as Katherine Waterston as Liza’s mother and a discarded girlfriend. The talking goes a mile a minute much in the manner of the great comedies of the 1930’s. Occasionally “Steve Jobs” flashes genius worthy of comparison to “Citizen Kane.” At other times it feels like a film of a play. I also felt I might have been completely lost had I not read the biography on which this film is based written by Walter Isaacson. I have appreciated Aaron Sorkin’s talent since his days writing “West Wing.” That said, I left “Steve Jobs” a little beat up, having been hit over the head by the story of a not very nice guy who might be a genius and who changed our world but who also might be the source of much that is wrong with it today. Does it deliver what it promises? Compelling drama. Is it entertaining? Talky story of a difficult character. Is it worth the price of admission? People will talk about this film this year.